Q&A with January Luncheon Speakers Craig Snook and Jane Baxter Lynn

Written by Riley West.

Strategy & Leadership professionals Craig Snook and Jane Baxter Lynn will share with you how to advance your organization’s mission by integrating communications strategy into all aspects of leadership and planning at our upcoming January Luncheon. During their talk “Communications – the missing link in strategic leadership,” you will learn:

• The importance of communications as a means for translating strategy into action and achieving organizational success.
• An understanding of how integrating personal leadership with strategic direction and clear, consistent positioning and communications can produce greater results.
• Key steps for what to do within your own organization.

Get to know our January speakers better with this short Q&A.

What made you want to become a communications professional?
As a professional communicator, Jane realized early in her career that public relations and good communications were essential to promoting a product or activity and joined the professional organization similar to WCA in South Africa. Since then, what makes her passionate about her profession is that we, as communicators, have such an important role to play in interpreting, engaging and facilitating positive outcomes.

What’s your favorite type of client to work with?
We are passionate about working with organizations, especially nonprofits, which need help establishing a solid foundation and a clear path for success, engaging stakeholders in the process. We developed the Strategic Leadership Essentials program because we both wanted to satisfy our passion for helping nonprofits and small businesses succeed.

What do you think is the biggest communications challenge that your clients face today?
Lack of consistent, clear communication strategies, from positioning and messaging to branding and outreach.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
As a professional communicator for more than 30 years, Jane understands the key role that communications plays in achieving success, whether personally or professionally.

About the Speakers
Austin-based strategy & leadership professionals Jane Baxter Lynn and Craig Snook have extensive experience in both for-profit and nonprofit leadership, with backgrounds in strategic planning, leadership development and all aspects of communications. They are co-developers of Strategic Leadership Essentials^©, the only leadership development program that works with leaders to combine their personal leadership approach with their organization’s strategic direction and effective communication strategies. The goal is to simplify the conversation and show that through alignment of these three areas, leaders can truly enhance efficiencies and be more effective in advancing their organization’s mission and developing their people to achieve greater results.

Craig has a passion for helping leaders grow and develop through proven techniques to strategically leader their organizations. A dynamic speaker, trainer and presenter, Craig employs clarity, innovation and humor to deliver programs to diverse audiences at all levels. With over three decades of experience in global leadership and strategy development in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, he is skilled in leadership coaching and remote team management with proven success.  His involvement in leadership development has ranged from individuals to senior management teams at the Dow Chemical Company.  As a consultant with Executive Service Corps of Houston, an organization designed to promote best management practices in nonprofits, he delivered strategic planning and organizational assessment skills in the community.

Craig is Board Chair for EcoRise Youth Innovations, Board Chair at Growing Roots, and past Board Member of the Caporal Assistance Network, three Austin area nonprofits.

Jane is a passionate advocate for sustainability, whether in buildings and urban growth, personal development or organizational success.  She is an experienced strategic planner, facilitator and communications specialist with over thirty years in communications, public relations, marketing, business development and association management. During her career, she has worked in leadership positions for Fortune 500 companies, industry and nonprofit associations, quasi-government organizations, and as a strategic business advisor. Her non-profit work has involved serving in both volunteer and executive leadership positions. She has extensive experience in leadership and organizational development and has gained a solid reputation for providing effective strategic counsel.

As Principal at JBL Strategies, a Central Texas-based strategic advisory business, Jane works with clients to help ensure the long-term sustainability of their organizations. Her mantra is clarity, consistency and relevance. She focuses on organizational management, positioning and messaging, as well as partnership and alliance building. Jane currently serves as Board Vice-Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council Central Texas-Balcones Chapter and co-Chair of the USGBC Texas State Advocacy Committee; Advisory Council Member of the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, and leader of Women Communicators of Austin’s mentor program.